Jonathan Thomas: Worcester Warriors head coach departs Sixways as Steve Diamond takes charge
- Published
Jonathan Thomas won 67 caps for Wales and first joined Worcester's coaching set-up in the summer of 2020
Worcester Warriors head coach Jonathan Thomas has departed the Premiership club with immediate effect - and Steve Diamond has taken control for the rest of the season.
Diamond, 53, who was appointed lead rugby consultant in November, will then become director of rugby from the end of this season on a two-year contract.
He will take over from Alan Solomons, who will retire in June, at 71.
Thomas, 39, was promoted to the role of head coach in January 2021.
But Warriors have continued to struggle under the 39-year-old 67-times capped former Wales international - and currently sit second bottom in the Premiership, propped up only by Bath.
"It was the logical decision to offer Steve the role as director of rugby," said Warriors co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham, in a club statement.
Alan Solomons (left) will work with Steve Diamond for the rest of the season before taking his retirement
"Steve has the qualities needed to take the club to the next level and achieve our ambitions of competing at the top end of the Premiership.
"We have invested a great deal into ensuring we have all the right ingredients for the club to reach its full potential.
Goldring and Whittingham, who are also directors of League One football club Morecambe, added: "We have unwavering confidence in the strength of the players and the ability of the club to achieve that goal.
"Jonathan has given his all to the club. We appreciate everything he's done in his time at Warriors both as a player and a coach."
Following Diamond's appointment in November, Thomas carried on in charge of the team, doing all the pre-match and post-match press conferences.
However, Diamond took over media duties for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
'We're just lacking a bit of oomph'
"It was a decision made by the board," Diamond told BBC Hereford & Worcester. "I've been given the reins moving forward and am just looking to build on the positives created by the previous regime.
"The previous management did a pretty good job. I just bring a different edge, if I'm being honest. I'll be a bit more abrasive in my approach. And I hope to take the intensity level up in training sessions.
"In the time I've been here, every game that we've competed in over the last two months we've got something out of, whether it's a losing bonus point, a win or a draw.
"We've got the basic rudiments of a highly competitive side that will be highly respected in this league.
"We've got all the ingredients here. We certainly have the talent, we have the wherewithal and the expertise. Maybe they've just not been utilised as well as they could.
"It's all about putting those ingredients into the saucepan and getting the right pie out of it.
"What we're just lacking is a bit of oomph."
Analysis
BBC Hereford & Worcester's Dave Bradley:
"You have to feel sorry for Jonathan Thomas. A good bloke, who put everything into turning Warriors round.
"There have been some signs of improvement this season and it's ironic that he gets the boot after a rare away win in Europe.
"Steve Diamond will be a somewhat different character, I suggest, and may shake the place up a bit.
"It seemed he would take over from Alan Solomons at the end of the season, but clearly the owners are not happy with events on the pitch."
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